The Iraqi volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) managed to make rapid advances since the start of the fifth phase of their military operations in regions West of Mosul and seized back more strategic villages near the city of Tal Afar.

Earlier on Sunday, Hashd al-Shaabi also took back Maflakieh, al-Fatseh and al-Ajbouri on the Western side of Mosul.

On Saturday, the Iraqi volunteer forces managed to purge the ISIL terrorists from al-Baynouneh village to the South of Tal Afar city.

Hashd al-Shaabi also announced on Friday that popular forces has started their 5th phase of anti-terrorism operation Southwest of Tal Afar city in Nineveh province, as they completed their siege of the terrorists in the city of Tal Afar.

The Tal Afar city is located between the city of Mosul and Syria and terrorists use Tal Afar to flee to Raqqa in Syria. The capture of Tal Afar will be very important for paving the way for victory in Nineveh province.

On Saturday, the volunteer forces' media service said they took over the village of Khodeir Southwest of Tal Afar after engaged in heavy clashes with ISIL, adding that the group uses civilians as human shields, Iraqi News reported.

Hashd al-Shaabi also brought down an ISIL-run drone in Um Nekheila village, and also destroyed two booby-trapped vehicles.